• The Student Nurses Association of Luna Community College is running its first Children’s Coat Drive. Donations of any unwanted new or used coats are being accepted at the Luna Allied Health Building, the Student Services Support Center and at the fiscal office until Nov. 30. Donation will be given to local children. For more information, call 426-5426.

• Community Art with Janet Stein-Romero and United World College students, an open studio, will be 3:30-5 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 2 at Blackbird Gallery on Bridge Street (on the corner on the west side of the bridge). Teens and younger youth (with parental supervision) are welcome. No experience with art is necessary.

• The Northeast Regional Education Cooperative, based out of New Mexico Highlands University, is recruiting recent area high school dropouts. If you are a recent dropout and are interested in taking free online courses to complete your diploma, contact Student Outreach Specialist Lorenzo E. Márquez at 426-2232. There are currently 59 courses offered from IDEAL-NM. The courses are all taught online by New Mexico certified teachers. Current high school students wishing to take credit recovery courses, advanced placement courses or select electives may also qualify.

• The Nat Gold Players is calling for more submissions of original short plays to be produced in the “Box Seats” series. The dramas should be between 10 and 20 minutes, involve no more than four actors and use a minimal setting of up to four boxes. Hand props and costumes can be more elaborate. The deadline for submission is Nov. 30. and should be sent to Jane Hyatt at 506 Columbia Ave. Call 425-6182 to leave a message for more information.

• DVDs of Robertson High School’s 2010 graduation are available for purchase. For more information, call the school’s office at 454-5770, ext. 212, or 429-2897. Proceeds of the sale will go to the 2011 graduating class.

• The Tri-County Farmers Market at Sixth Street and University Avenue will be open until Saturday, Oct. 30. The market is open from 7 a.m. to sellout every Wednesday and Saturday.

• Volunteers are needed for Girl Scouts to start troops and help girls become more confident and build character. For more information, call Loretta Armijo at (505) 983-6339, ext.12, or e-mail larmijo@gs-nmtrails.org.

• A kickboxing and step combo class is to be held from 1-2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Oct. 18 to Dec. 10 at Luna Community College’s wellness center. For more information, call 425-8767 or 429-0508.

• Entry forms are being accepted for the 2011 Miss Las Vegas-Miss San Miguel County Scholarship Pageant, a preliminary of the Miss America Pageant. The competition is open to young women ages 17 to 24. Phases of competition are interview, talent, swim suit, on-stage question and evening wear. The winners of this competition will represent Las Vegas and San Miguel County at the Miss New Mexico Pageant in June. Entry forms may be picked up at the Las Vegas-San Miguel County Chamber of Commerce or at the city’s recreation center. The entry deadline is Friday, Oct. 29, 2010. For more information, visit www.missamerica.org or call Philip Ortiz, executive director, at 718-5656.

• Flu shots are available from 1-4 p.m. every Wednesday and 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. every Thursday at the Las Vegas Clinic for Children and Youth, 501 Seventh St.

• Volunteers are needed at Vida Encantada nursing home to help with activities on Tuesday mornings. If you are able to donate your time, call Sheena Galla at 425-9362.

• Highlands University’s counseling department is offering counseling services to the community this semester. The counseling is provided by graduate students in the final phase of their training in the counseling profession. Call 454-3564 for more information or to make an appointment. The counseling is confidential, free and supervised by the counseling department’s training professor. The sessions are offered 3-6 p.m. Thursdays.

• The Parent Support Group meeting for Children with Disabilities meets 6-7 p.m. every first Wednesday of the month at Pathways Therapy Services at 2002 Hot Springs Blvd. Participants can discuss with other parents topics such as IEPs, different types of therapy, advocacy training, behavior management and resources in the community. All are welcome and do not have to be receiving therapy services at Pathways to attend the meetings. For more information, call Raychel Hosch at 426-7466, e-mail radhosch@hotmail.com or visit pathwaystherapy.wordpress.com.

• The San Miguel County DWI Safe-Ride-Home Service is available from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Call 429-0336 for service.

• The San Miguel County Family and Community Health Council is seeking nominations of interested and committed volunteers for membership. Call Yolanda Cruz, coordinator, at 425-9770 or 617-0483 or e-mail smhealthcouncil@desertgate.com for more information. The council meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 9-11a.m. The council’s priorities are substance abuse, access to care, interpersonal violence and diabetes-obesity.

• Jessica Ortiz’s apartment was damaged in a fire July 1 at 2201 Collins Drive. An account for donations has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank under Jessica Ortiz. For more information, call 425-3069.

• The United Community Soup Kitchen of the First United Methodist Church at the corner of Eighth Street and National Avenue is open serving meals from noon to 12:45 p.m. Thursdays.

• A bank account has been set up at Bank of Las Vegas to help pay the medical expenses for Madison Holly, the 9-year-old girl who was hit by a car on First Street recently.

• A nonprofit organization has started a community farmers market and artists market. It will be off Interstate 25 and N.M. Highway 3, exit 323. All products are grown and made in the small communities in the Valley. For more information, call (575) 421-8060.

• The state of New Mexico has a Working Disabled Individuals Program. Do you have a disability? Are you working or considering work? Do you need health insurance? If you have any questions or interest in this program, call 718-8843 or 1-800-997-2583.

• Samaritan House provides shelter, food and other services to local homeless people. The group is looking for volunteers to help staff its shelter. For more information, call (575) 613-0100.

• Drivers in New Mexico can show their Cowboy pride with the new Highlands University license plate available through the Department of Motor Vehicles. The new plate will cost $37 plus the cost of registration. Of the purchase, $25 is given to the university. Highlands supporters across the state can order the plate via mail order by filling out the revised application for collegiate registration plate form available through the Motor Vehicle Department.

• The service road that runs east-west between the entrance and parking lot of the Elks Lodge on Collins Drive and directly behind the Kocina de Rafael will be permanently closed to all through traffic. After more than 10 years of requests by past and present officers and members of the Elks Lodge, the city of Las Vegas approved the closure of the service road to all through traffic after sufficient data was provided showing that the traveling public using the service road to access businesses off the Seventh Street corridor was posing a danger to all pedestrians in the immediate area.

• Volunteers are needed at the city’s animal shelter. Go by the shelter at 1700 N. Grand Ave. (behind City Hall) and fill out a volunteer application.

• The office for the San Miguel County manager and county commissioners has moved to 500 W. National Ave, Suite 200. That is also the mailing address.

• CASA is now seeking volunteers. CASA is an organization of highly trained volunteers who advocate for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. The majority of these children are in foster care. The CASA volunteer meets with the child at school or at the foster home to determine what is in the best interests of the child and makes recommendations to the District Court judge. For more information, call CASA at 454-0223 and ask for Chuck Searcy, executive director, or Barbara Casey, assistant director.